Image display device utilizing 3D protecting process by detecting a parallax value

ABSTRACT

An image display device capable of displaying an images on right and left image display elements ( 26 I, and  26 R) by receiving right and left image signals for displaying three-dimensional images which are fed alternately in a field sequence manner. The degree of influence on the viewer is operated by measuring the parallax value of the right and left image signals fed to the right and left image display elements ( 26 L, and  26 R) by a 3D protecting means ( 14 ), and it is judged whether or not the operated degree of influence reaches a reference value. If the operated degree of influence reaches the reference value, the degree of influence of the 3D image on the viewer is reduced by selectively displaying the result of the judgment on the right and left image display elements ( 26 L, and  26 R), so that the image can be viewed in a consistently suitable manner.

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 USC 371of International Application PCT/JP02/02511 filed Mar. 15, 2002.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image display device capable ofdisplaying three-dimensional image (3D image).

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

The image display device for displaying 3D image is variously proposedhitherto, however, 3D image displayed by such image display device has acase where hard to see and unnatural are felt, since an observationdifferent from daily life is produced. In the contents that contain alot of rapid parallax changes to which the parallax is large, andsubject dashes out from the screen particularly, it becomes harder tosee while a strong stereo effect is obtained, so that it is necessary toavoid audience for a long time.

In consideration of the respect, for example, in Japanese PatentApplication Opened No. 134,587/1989, the parallax value of inputted 3Dimage signal is measured, and the degree of influence, that will begiven to the viewer based on the parallax value, is guessed, therebysuppressing and controlling stereo degree of the 3D image displayed onthe viewer, or, 3D image is controlled by the switching totwo-dimensional image (2D image), thereby proposing the imaging systemso constituted that the long time audience of the image with largedegree of influence to emphasize the stereo effect is avoided.

On the one hand, it is known that 3D image is provided in such a mannerthat the image distinguishes left (L) and right (R) information based on3D information superimposed on the vertical blanking period of theluminance signal, as defined by EIAJ CPR-1204, the left signal isdisplayed on the display at left side, and the right signal is displayedon the display at right side.

However, in the imaging system disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationOpened No. 355,804/1989, the parallax value of only 3D video signal ismeasured, and the degree of influence is guessed, so that the systemmight not function to a rapid change in the parallax, the error at themeasuring, and the noise of the image well, and it is likely to beswitched to two-dimensional image compulsorily against the hope for theviewer.

On the other hand, there is a method defined by the above EIAJ as how toprovide 3D image, but in the software of current 3D image in domesticand foreign countries, there are exist the method that the signal on Lside is arranged in the even field, and the signal on R side is arrangedin the odd field, and on the contrary, the method that the signal on Rside is arranged in the even field, and the signal on L side is arrangedin the odd field, together.

Therefore, in the image display device that switches L and R accordingto the software of the provided 3D image by hand and displays the image,there is a case where the inconvenience is generated, such as that thedegree of influence to the viewer is made stronger by a wrong switch,or, the 3D image cannot be appreciated according to the provided 3Dimage software, or the like.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore the object of the present invention performed considering thisrespect is to provide an image display device capable of decreasing thedegree of influence on the viewer of 3D image and of observing the imageunder always appropriate conditions.

The construction of the summary of the present invention is as shown inthe followings 1-6.

-   -   1. An image display device capable of displaying images on right        and left image display elements by receiving right and left        image signals for displaying three-dimensional images which are        fed alternately in a field sequential manner, comprising a 3D        protecting process means for judging whether or not the operated        degree of influence reached a reference value, by detecting the        parallax value of the right and left video signals supplied to        the right and left image display elements to operate the degree        of influence on the viewer, and a display control means for        selectively displaying such judgment on the right and left image        display elements, in case of judging that the degree of        influence reached the reference value by the 3D protecting        process means.    -   2. An image display device in the above 1, wherein in case of        displaying that the degree of influence reaches the reference        value, the display control means displays whether or not the        image together with the displaying are continuously appreciated,        on the right and left image display elements, selectively.    -   3. An image display device in the above 2, wherein the display        control means supplies the video signal of the odd number field        or of the even number field to the above right and left image        display elements, thereby two-dimensional displaying the image        compulsorily, in case of selecting that the image is appreciated        continuously, and the display control means turns off the main        power supply compulsorily, in case of selecting that the image        is not appreciated continuously.    -   4. An image display device in the above 1, 2 or 3, further        comprising a password input means for inputting a password of a        viewer selectively, a password storage means for storing the        password from the password input means selectively, a password        decision means for deciding whether the password from the        password input means is stored in the password storage means,        and in case of being decided by the password decision means that        the password is stored, even if it is decided that the above        degree of influence reached the above reference value in the        above 3D protecting process means, without displaying the        decision on the right and left image display elements, the        display control means displays the three-dimensional image on        the right and left image display elements, and then in case of        being decided that the password is not stored by the password        decision means, if it is decided that the above degree of        influence reached the above reference value in the above 3D        protecting process means the display control means displays the        decision on the right and left image display elements.    -   5. An image display device in any one of the above 1-4, further        comprising a field distinction means for distinguishing the        field of a right and left video signal based on the parallax        value detected by the 3D protecting process means, and the        display control means a left video signal is supplied to a left        image displaying element, and a right video signal is supplied        to a right image displaying element, respectively, according to        a result of the distinction in the field distinction means.    -   6. An image display device in the above 5, wherein during        distinction period of the field due to the field distinction        means, the display control means prohibits the display of the        three-dimensional image on the right and left image display        elements, and displays the duration of the distinction period of        the field on these right and left image display elements.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the head mounted type image displaydevice and the controller in the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance in which the imagedisplaying system of the head mounted type image display device shown inFIG. 1 is assembled;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the image displayingsystem shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of the principalportion in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the constitution of one embodiment ofthe 3D protect processing portion shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the constitution of one embodiment ofthe degree of influence operating portion shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view showing the OSD display embodiment in the firstembodiment;

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b are views showing the OSD display embodiment in thefirst embodiment; similarly;

FIGS. 10 a to 10 c are views showing the OSD display embodiment forexplaining the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of theprincipal portion in the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the principalportion in the third embodiment;

FIGS. 13 a to 13 c are views showing the OSD display embodiment in thethird embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of theprincipal portion in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 15 a and 15 b is are views for explaining the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining the fourth embodiment, similarly;

FIG. 17 is a view for explaining the fourth embodiment, similarly;

FIGS. 18 a and 18 b are views for explaining the fourth embodiment,similarly;

FIG. 19 is a view for explaining the fourth embodiment, similarly;

FIG. 20 a and 20 b are views for explaining the fourth embodiment,similarly;

FIG. 21 is a view for explaining the fourth embodiment, similarly; and

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of theprincipal portion in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING-OUT OF THE INVENTION FIRST EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-9 show the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 isa perspective view showing the head mounted type image display deviceand the controller from a front side, FIG. 2 is a perspective viewshowing the appearance in which the image displaying system of the headmounted type image display device is assembled, FIG. 3 is a partiallyexploded perspective view of the image displaying system shown in FIG.2, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the principal portion of the mainbody of the device and the controller shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a blockdiagram showing the constitution of one embodiment of the 3D protectingprocessing portion shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showingthe constitution of one embodiment of the degree of influence operatingportion shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining theoperation of the first embodiment, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are views showingthe OSD display embodiment in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a head mounted type image display device 1 of thepresent embodiment, comprises a main device body 5 of the devicecovering the image displaying system built therein by a front cover 5 aand a rear cover 5 b, joint members 6L and 6R fixed to the right andleft of the main body 5 of the device, respectively, head supportingframes 7L and 7R pivotally supported so as to be able to fold thesejoint members 6L and 6R, right and left inner phones 9L and 9R capableof being stored respectively in an inner phone holding portion 7 b ofthe head supporting frames 7L and 7R describe later, if necessary, aninner phone cable 9 a for transmitting the aural signal to these innerphones 9L and 9R respectively, and, a sliding adjuster 8 capable ofbeing inserted slidablly between the head supporting frames 7L, 7R andthe joint members 6L and 6R. In addition, though not shown, it alsoprovides with the nosepiece member extended telescopically from thedevice main body 5, and touched to user's bridge of the nose, and forsupporting the main body 5 of the device together with the headsupporting frame 7L and 7R.

The joint members 6L and 6R have a pivotally supported reception portion6 a to support the head supporting frames 7L and 7R rotatably, and arecess 6 b inserting inner phone cable 9 a at the outer side is formed.

The head supporting frames 7L and 7R comprises a pivotal supportingportion 7 a for connecting it with the pivotally supported receptionportion 6 a of joint members 6L and 6R, the inner phone supportingportion 7 b for encasing and holding inner phones 9L and 9R formed atthe edge side opposite to the pivotal supporting portion 7 a, ifnecessary, a recess 7 e formed at the outer side for inserting the innerphone cable 9 a therein, and an inserted position holding portion 7 cand a retracted position holding portion 7 d which are delimited withthe rib etc. for defining a sliding adjuster 8 to the inserted positionand the retracted position.

The sliding adjuster 8 comprises a holding claw 8 a engaging selectivelyto the inserted position holding portion 7 c and the retracted positionholding portion 7 d of the head supporting frames 7L and 7R, and arotating angle restriction claw portion 8 b inserted between thepivotally supported reception portion 6 a of the joint members 6L and 6Rand the pivotal supporting portion 7 a of the head supporting frames 7Land 7R for restricting so as to narrow an opening angle of the headsupporting frames 7L and 7R, in case of engaging the holding claw 8 a tothe inserted position holding portion 7 c, and the sliding adjuster 8has a rectangular hole 8 c for achieving the reduction in weightpartially.

The sliding adjuster 8 is fitted to the outer side detachably for thehead supporting frame 7L and 7R, and has both the function for holdingit at side of the head in such a manner that the inner phone cable 9 aand the inner phones 9L and 9R do not hang down before one's eyes, byfitting it from the outside of an inner phone cable 9 a contained alongthe recess 7 e therein.

Moreover, a main cable 2 for transmitting the video signal and the voicesignal, etc. to the head mounted type image display device 1, isextended through from the lower side of the joint member 6L as one body,and a controller 3 for controlling the image and the voice of the headmounted type image display device 1, is connected to the device bodythrough the main cable 2.

The controller 3 is connected to the main cable 2 extended from the headmounted type image display device 1 as one body, an upper cover 31 andan under cover 32 are fitted to each other, thereby constituting anouter packaging, and in addition, and the connection cable 4 for beingconnected to an external device is extended therefrom. Moreover, theconnection cable 4 may be constituted so as to connect it to theconnector terminal provided to the controller 3 detachably.

The controller 3 is provided with an operating buttons 34 for performingdisplay of menu, move of aimed item, modification of set value accordingto aimed item, and decision of set item, or the like, a power supplyswitch 36 (refer to FIG. 4) for turning on the power supply, and a powersource lamp 35 for notifying the turn on visually with the light emittedat the turn on of the source or the like.

The operating button 34 can be operated by knocking the button down infour directions, that is, upper and down, right and left directions,from the center position at non-operation time, and in addition, thedepressed operation of the button can also be performed, so that theneighborhood of the opening where operating button 34 of the outerpackaging of the controller 3 is exposed, is formed as a lower stepportion 31 b that lowers more than an other upper surface portions 31 a,and the height, to which operating button 34 is exposed and projectedfrom the lower step portion 31 b, has lowered more than the height ofthe upper surface portion 31 a.

In addition, the operating button 34 is arranged so as to position atthe lower side from the straight line that connects the corner portionon lower step portion 31 b side of upper surface portion 31 a and thesurface of lower step portion 31 b, so that regardless of the state thatcontroller 3 is located, the operating button 34 never touches the planewhere the controller 3 is left. Thus, even if the controller 3 is forexample put on oblique on the desk, the operating button 34 is notcarelessly compressed.

Next, the constitution of the image displaying system in head mountedtype image display device 1 is explained referring to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The image displaying system is constructed in such a manner that rightand left back lights 17L and 17R each consisting of white plane emissiontype LED unit, liquid crystal display elements (LCD) 15L and 15R asright and left image display elements for generating imagescorresponding to supplied video signal (refer to FIG. 4), and prisms 11Land 11R for leading luminous flux due to the image generated by theseLCDs 15L and 15R and illuminated by the corresponding back lights 17Land 17R to user's right and left eyeballs, are fitted to an opticalsystem supporting member 12, and in addition, a circuit substrate 18 formounting a control circuit for controlling the LCDs 15L and 15R, and acontrol circuit for controlling back lights 17L and 17R, is fitted tothe optical system supporting member 12.

The optical system supporting member 12 are fitted to a back-covering 5b in such a manner that an optical system maintenance portions 12L onthe left eye side and an optical system hold portion 12R on the righteye side are connected by a connecting portion 12 b, integrally, and themachine screw etc. are screwed to a fastening portion 12 a provided atsubstantially central portion of the connecting portion 12 b.

The optical system supporting member 12 is provided at its respectiveoptical holding portions 12L and 12R with a luminous flux passing window12 d consisting of rectangular hole, respectively, a holding projection12 c is provided to right and left corner portions in its circumference,and other holding projection 12 j is provided to the central portion ofthe arm opposed to the peripheral holding projection 12 c, respectively.

Moreover, a position defining pin 12 e for positioning and fixing acircuit substrate 18 is provided to two corner portions as side of theconnecting portion 12 b of the optical system holding portion 12R atright eye side.

In addition, the right and left ends of the optical system supportingmember 12 are provided with a reception portions 12 h, respectively, inwhich an engaging convex portions 11 a of the prisms 11L and 11R arefitted, and a boss 12 g are provided on the upper surface of thesereceiving portions 12 h. The inner portion of the boss 12 are machinedto engrave a screw hole of the screw.

Similarly, the shape portion having the engaging convex portion 11 a ofthe prisms 11L and 11R fitted therein respectively is formed to theright and left ends on the undersurface side of the connecting portion12 b of the optical system supporting member 12.

The prisms 11L and 11R are constructed by a so-called free-shaped prism,in which a free-form surface capable of ensuring a high opticalperformance while attempting miniaturization is adopted, the prism 11 isconstructed so as to eject luminous flux of the image due tocorresponding LCDs 15R and 15L to the user's eyeballs after twicereflections.

The prisms 11L and 11R are provided with engaging convex portions 11 aat its right and left upper end portions in the projected state, a Ugroove 11 b is engraved to screw a machine screw there, and the engagingconvex portion 11 a is fitted in the reception portion 12 h and theconnecting portion 12 b, so that the prisms 11L and 11R are fixed to theoptical system supporting member 12 by fastening the machine screw tovis holes screwed on the inside of the boss 12 g or the under surfaceside of connecting portion 12 b.

On the one hand, the right and left optical system holding portions 12Land 12R of the optical system supporting member 12 comprise low-passfilters 13L, 13R for removing the unnecessary high frequency componentsin the frequency components contained in the luminous flux, and arectangular hole 14 a, the mask members 14L, 14R for limiting thepassage of unnecessary light such as the flares, and LCDs 15L and 15Rare fixed to a predetermined position, while guarding and covering theLCDs 15L and 15R, and back light holding frames 16L, 16R for fitting theback lights 17L and 17R, and back lights 17L and 17 R are fittedsequentially upward.

The low-pass filters 13L, 13R and the mask members 14L, and 14R arenotched in oblique by one of its four corner portions and constituted insuch a manner that these components are never mounted to in wrongdirection. Moreover, the low-pass filter 13R and the mask member 14R arenot shown in the figure.

Back light holding frames 16L and 16R are formed with a transparentresin etc. respectively, and comprise a light transmitting plane 16 a, atip engaging portion 16 b for engaging with a holding projection 12 j ofthe optical system supporting member 12, a pairs of right and leftengaging portion 16 c for engaging with a holding projection 12 c of theoptical system supporting member 12, a holding claw 16 d for holding thecorresponding back lights 17L and 17R pinched in the shape of right andleft one pair, a fixed shaped portion 16 e for pinching and fixing oneend side of the circuit substrate 18 by an upper end plane 12 f of theoptical system holding portion 12R, and a fixed shaped portion 16 f forpinching and fixing the other end side of the circuit substrate 18 by anupper end plane of the optical system holding portion 12L.

The back light holding frames 16L and 16R are formed by the same shapedmember, and in this way, by molding the right and left with the sametype, the reductions in cost is attempted, and the assembly task can beeasily performed.

Also, a lower surface 17 d as the emitting plane for respective backlight holding frames 16L and 16R is opposed to the light transmittingplane 16 a, and the corresponding back lights 17L and 17R are pinchedand fixed at the right and left sides by the holding claw 16 d.

The back lights 17L and 17R comprises a casing 17 a of substantial tapershape, in which in case of viewing from the sides, one side is thin andthe other side is thick, LED as the light source is arranged at the sideof a thick back surface 17 b of the casing 17 a, a top surface 17 c ofthe casing 17 a (its inside) is made an inclined reflection plane foruniformizing and reflecting the light emitting from LED, and theundersurface 17 d of casing 17 a is made an emitting plane for emanatingthe uniformized light outside.

Thus, the back lights 17L and 17R are constituted by using LED as alight source, so that the low power consumption can be performedcompared with the use of a fluorescent tube as the light source.

LED is (are) arranged by one or plural in parallel in the casing 17 a,for example, LED constitutes as a light source for emitting light withcomparatively short wavelength (blue light or the like), and theinclined reflection plane is constituted as a fluorescent scatterreflection plane, thereby converting it into uniform white light andreflecting it.

A flexible printed wiring board 19 is extended from LCDs 15L and 15R,and a plurality of leads 20 are extended from back lights 17L and 17R,after securing them once by a fixing tape 22, and then these tips areconnected to a connector 19 a and a lead wire connecting portion 20 amounted on the circuit board 18 respectively.

The circuit substrate 18 is constructed by a rigid substrate etc. formounting the controlling circuit of LCDs 15L and 15R, and a controllingcircuit of the back lights 17L and 17R as shown by reference numeral 21,and in addition, the inner phone cable 9 a and the main cable 2 areconnected thereto.

Circuit substrate 18 is a structure subjected to a downsizing as much aspossible, and put on and fixed to the connecting portion 12 b betweenthe left optical system holding portion 12L and the right optical systemholding portions 12R.

That is, a hole 18 a fitting on the position defining pin 12 erespectively, and a rectangular hole 18 b are punched on two cornerportions as the sides of the optical system holding portion 12R of thecircuit substrate 18, and the positioning is performed by insertingthese pins in these holes.

In addition, the circuit substrate 18 is fixed to the optical systemsupporting member 12 by putting it between the upper end plane 12 f andthe fixed shaped portion 16 e at the side of the optical system holdingportion 12R, and by putting it between the upper end plane and fixedshaped portion 16 f at the side of the optical system holding portion12L.

The above image displaying system is covered with the front cover 5 aand the rear cover 5 b, and contained in the device body 5.

In this case, the electrical charging prevention film (not shown) ismounted to the further outside portion of the back lights 17L and 17R.As a result, an inner circuit can be guarded by preventing staticelectricity from the outside.

Moreover, the ocular window (not shown) is formed in rear cover 5 b, thetransparent plate (not shown) is fitted to, and the image emanated fromthe prisms 11L and 11R is observed through the ocular window.

In addition, the front cover 5 a has gradual sloping shape towardforward, and the back lights 17L and 17R with the above tapered shape asdescribed above are arranged according to the above sloping shape, insuch a manner that the thinner side is made forward, and the thickerside (side to which LED is arranged) is made the rear side (that is,ocular side).

Next, the circuit structure of the principal portion of the head mountedtype image display device according to the present embodiment isexplained with reference to FIG. 4.

The controller 3 comprises a YC separation circuit 40, a decoder 41, ananalog to digital conversion circuit 42, a synchronous separationcircuit 43, a 3D protecting processing portion 44, an external memory45, an operating button 34, a microcomputer 47, a voice preamplifier 48,a voice main amplifier 49, a power unit 51, and a power supply switch36. Moreover, the device body 5 comprises the controlling circuit 21,right and left LCDs 15L, 15R, and right and left inner phones 9L and 9Ras described above.

An analog composite video signal including right and left video signalscapable of displaying 3D image output alternately in a field sequentialmanner from an external device, is supplied to an YC separation circuit40 in the controller 3 to separates to a luminance signal Y and achrominance signal C, in addition, converted into an analog RGB videosignal in a decoder 41 and supplied to a controlling circuit 21 of thedevice body 5, and supplied supplies to the right and left LCDs 15L and15R from the controlling circuit 21.

Right and left LCDs 15L and 15R are driven and controlled, based on theinstruction from the microcomputer 47 of the controller 3 by thecontrolling circuit 21. For example, in a 3D observation mode, right andleft LCDs 15L and 15R are alternately driven in synchronizing with thefield, as a result, the video signal of the even field is, for example,displayed on LCD 15L for the left eye, the video signal of the odd fieldis, for example, displayed to LCD15R for the right eye, and these rightand left images are fused in the viewer, thereby observing the 3D image.

Moreover, in two dimensional image (2D) observation mode, right and leftLCDs 15L and 15R are driven at the same time, and the same video signalsof both fields are displayed on the right and left LCDs 15L and 15R.

Moreover, the selection of 3D or 2D observation mode is displayed bysupplying OSD (On Screen Display) signal of the screen for 3D·2Dselection to the right and left LCDs 15L and 15R from a microcomputer 47by a required operation of an operating button 34 through a controllingcircuit 21, and is performed by operating the operating button 34 on theOSD screen.

Moreover, the right and left voice signals supplied by an externaldevice and the composite video signals are amplified with a voicepreamplifier 48 of the controller 3, and are amplified with a voice mainamplifier 49, to output from right and left inner phones 9L and 9R ofthe device body 5.

On the other hand, the luminance signal Y separated with a YC separationcircuit 40, is converted into the digital signal by an analog to digitalconversion circuit 42 and is supplied to a 3D protecting processingportion 44 in the controller 3. Moreover, the luminance signal Y issupplied to a synchronous separation circuit 43, wherein verticalsynchronizing signals are separated from the luminance signal Y andfield synchronizing signals are generated, the field synchronizingsignals are supplied to a 3D protecting processing portion 44. Moreover,the controller 3 has S terminal, the luminance signal Y input to the Sterminal is supplied to a decoder 41, an analog to digital (A/D)conversion circuit 42, and a synchronous separation circuit 43, and thechrominance signal C is supplied to the decoder 41.

As shown in FIG. 5, a 3D protect processing portion 44 comprises amemory control portion 61, a degree of influence operation portion 62,and a degree of influence decision portion 63. In the 3D protectprocessing portion 44, sequential field digital video signals from ananalog to digital conversion circuit 42 are written in an externalmemory 45 through a memory control portion 61, in synchronizing with thefield synchronizing signal from a synchronous separation circuit 43, byplural fields (here, by four sequential fields) while updating them oneby one. And the video signals of two fields (ODD field and next EVENfield) written in the external memory 45 sequentially are similarly readin synchronizing with the field synchronizing signal through a memorycontrol portion 61, the parallax value in the horizontal and verticaldirection, etc. is detected by for example well-known block matchingmethod in a degree of influence operating portion 62 based on the readvideo signal in sequential field, the degree of influence given to theviewer is operated based on the parallax value detected one by one,whether or not the degree of influence reached the reference value isdecided by a degree of influence deciding portion 63, and the decisionresult is output to a microcomputer 47.

The degree of influence operating portion 62 comprises a preprocessingportion 65, a parallax measuring portion 66, an evaluating portion 67,an error code setting portion 68, and an evaluation value accumulatingportion 69 as shown in FIG. 6 and the evaluating portion 67 has a staticparallax evaluating portion 67-1 and a dynamic parallax evaluatingportion 67-2.

The sequential field video signals read from the external memory 45 bythe memory control portion 61 are supplied to the preprocessing portion65, and herein the images of sequential two fields are stored in thememory of the preprocessing portion 65 respectively according to theprescribed timing and the preprocessing of the resolution conversion andsmoothing, etc. are performed.

In parallax measuring portion 66, the parallax value included in thestereoscopic image from the preprocessed image is measured to calculatethe parallax statistics. Herein, the parallax value of statistics is tomean the statistical data such as the minimum value and the mode valueetc. of the parallax value included in the stereoscopic image.

In evaluating portion 67, the parallax value of statistics is convertedinto the evaluation value, based on the previously set rule. This ruleis defined in consideration of person's visual characteristic. Staticevaluation of parallax value is performed by the static parallaxevaluating portion 67-1 of the evaluating portions 67 and thus theevaluation value is set according to the value of the parallax value ofstatistics. A large evaluation value is set if there is a big parallaxin the image. On the one side, the dynamic evaluation of the parallaxvalue is performed by the dynamic parallax evaluating portion 67-2, andthus the evaluation value is set according to the time change of theparallax value of statistics.

Here, the precision of the parallax measurement is not obtained enoughaccording to the character of input 3D image, there is a case that thereliability of the calculated parallax value of statistics is low.Therefore, the error status is recorded by an error code setting portion68, and in case of setting the evaluation value, the evaluation value ischanged if necessary referring to an error code setting portion 68.

In evaluation value accumulating portion 69, the evaluation valuesobtained by the evaluating portion 67 are integrated, and added to theprevious accumulated value, thus accumulated value is supplied to thedegree of influence deciding portion 63 as a degree of influence,whether or not the thus obtained degree of influence reached thereference value is decided by the degree of influence deciding portion63, the decided result is supplied to the micro-computer 47, and thedisplaying operation of the right and left LCDs 15L and 15R according tothe controlling circuit 21 is controlled by microcomputer 47 based onthe decided result in the degree of influence deciding portion 63.

Moreover, the required power supply is supplied to respective portionsof the controller 3 and the device body 5 from the power supply portion51 installed in the controller 3 under the switching on of the powersupply switch 36.

Hereafter, the operation of the image display device according to thepresent embodiment is explained with reference to a flow chart shown inFIG. 7, and a display embodiment of OSD shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

First, if the power supply switch 36 is turned on (step S1), themicrocomputer 47 OSD-displays the selecting screen for selecting the 2Dor 3D observation mode as shown in FIG. 8 on the right and left LCDs 15Land 15R through the controlling circuit 21, and the cursor is moved toselect 2D or 3D (step S2) under operation of the operating button 34according to the viewer on the selecting screen.

In the case of selecting 2D observation mode in step S2, as describedabove, the right and left LCDs 15L and 15R are driven at the same timein step S3 by a usual routine, and the same video signal of both fieldsis displayed on the right and left LCDs 15L and 15R.

On the contrary, in the case of selecting 3D observation mode in stepS2, the input of the 3D image signal to the 3D protecting processingportion 44 begins (step S4), the parallax value in the horizontal andthe vertical directions, etc. is detected by the block matching methodin the degree of influence operating portion 62 as to all blocks atevery block (step S5), the evaluation value is operated based on theparallax value (step S6), in the case of detecting the completion of theparallax detection for all blocks and the completion of measurement ofthe parallax evaluation in step S7, the evaluation values of all blocksare integrated and added to the previous accumulated value, (step S8),thus accumulated value is supplied to the degree of influence decidingportion 63 as a degree of influence, and whether or not the thusobtained degree of influence reached the reference value is decided(step S9).

If the degree of influence does not reach the reference value in stepS9, the operation returns to step S8, and the parallax evaluation valuein the next sequential field is accumulated, and in the case that thedegree of influence reached the reference value, at that time, thewarning screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 9( a) is OSD-displayed onthe right and left LCDs 15L, 15R by the microcomputer 47 throughcontrolling circuit 21 in step S10, afterwards, for example, thenotification screen as shown in FIG. 9( b) is OSD-displayed, and then,the power supply switch 36 is automatically turned off and theobservation of the 3D image is discontinued compulsorily.

Thus, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the3D observation mode, the parallax value is detected in the 3D protectingprocessing portion 44 to accumulate its evaluation value, and thus thewarning screen is displayed in OSD and when the accumulated level(degree of influence) reaches the reference value, the warning isannounced to the viewer, and then the power supply switch 36 isautomatically turned off, so that the influence on the viewer accordingto the 3D image observation can surely be decreased.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 10( a), (b) and (c) are views explaining the second embodiment ofthe present invention and showing respective OSD display embodiments.

According to the present embodiment, in the constitution similar to thefirst embodiment, in the case that the degree of influence reached thereference value, at the time of image observation in 3D observationmode, the warning screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 10( a), isOSD-displayed on the right and left LCDs 15L, 15R by the microcomputer47 through the controlling circuit 21, the image observation is selectedas it is by operating “Continue” or “Do not continue” by the operatingbutton 34 due to the viewer, in the case of selecting “Continue”, forexample, the notification screen as shown in FIG. 10( b) isOSD-displayed, the observation is compulsorily switched to the 2Dobservation mode and the observation of the image is continued by ausual routine, in the case of selecting “Do not continue” for example,the notification screen as shown in FIG. 10( c) is OSD-displayed, andthen the power supply switch 36 is automatically turned off and theobservation of the 3D image is discontinued compulsorily.

In this way, in addition that the influence on the viewer due to the 3Dimage observation can surely be decreased as well as the firstembodiment, in the case of selecting “Continue” of the imageobservation, the observation is automatically switched to 2D observationmode, so that the viewer can observe the image to the last minute.

THIRD EMBODIMENT

By the way, in the conventional head mounted type image display device,in general, use to less than 16 years old is prohibited, there is a caseto register the password. Such an image display device becomes only forpersonal, in case of registering the password, and after reaching thereference value by the degree of influence in 3D observation modeaccording to the person, there are any unaffected people, too, even ifthe 3D image is continuously observed.

Then, in a third embodiment of the present invention, the registrationof the password is enabled, though the observation of the image ispossible even if the password is not registered, in case of using thedevice, if the password having already been registered is input, evenafter reaching the reference value by the degree of influence in the 3Dobservation mode, and the observation of the 3D image is continuouslyenabled.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of theprincipal portion of the third embodiment. In the head mounted typeimage display device, in the constitution shown in FIG. 4, a passwordmemory 71, in which the password is stored by connecting themicrocomputer 47 thereto, is installed, and other constitutions are thesame as ones shown in FIG. 4, so that the same reference number isattached to the same component as one shown in FIG. 4 and theexplanation thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, user's password of the device is previously inputand stored in the password memory 71 by depressing the operating button34, and the display of the image to the right and left LCDs 15L and 15Ris controlled through the controlling circuit 21 by the microcomputer47, according to whether or not the password is set at the using of thedevice was used, that is, whether or not the password is input, or inthe case of inputting the password, whether or not the input password isregistered in the password memory 71.

That is, in 3D observation mode, if the degree of influence is decidedreaching to the reference value in step S9 shown in FIG. 7, then, asshown by the flow chart in FIG. 12, it is decided whether the passwordis set with the microcomputer 47 (step S11).

Here, in the case of deciding that the password is set, that is, in caseof confirming that the password is set at the using of the device, andthe input password and the password registered in password memory 71 arecoincided with each other by the microcomputer 47, the warning screenshown in FIG. 13( a) is OSD-displayed on the right and left LCDs 15L and15R, for example, through the controlling circuit 21, in the viewer,“Continue” as it is or “Do not continue” of the 3D image observation isselected by depressing of the operating button 34 (step S12),and then inthe case of selecting “Continue” for example, the notification screenshown in FIG. 13( b) is OSD-displayed, and returns to the step S5 shownin FIG. 7, the image displaying of the 3D is continued as it is.

Moreover, in this case, when the warning screen shown in FIG. 13( a) isdisplayed once, the warning screen is not displayed thereafter, forexample, in the viewer, the 3D observation mode is continued until thepower supply switch 36 is turned off, or at the time of returning thestep S5 in FIG. 7 from the step S12 of FIG. 12, the degree of influencethat accumulated till then is reset, and the operating of the degree ofinfluence is started newly, and every time the degree of influencereaches the reference value, the warning screen shown in FIG. 13( a) isdisplayed and then whether or not the 3D observation mode is continued,is selected.

On the contrary, in the step S12, in case of selecting “Do not continue”on the warning screen shown in FIG. 13( a), the notification screenshown in FIG. 13( c) is OSD-displayed, and the power supply switch 36 isautomatically turned off and the observation of the 3D image isdiscontinued.

On the one hand, in the step S11 shown in FIG. 12, in case of decidingthe password not to be set, that is, in the case that the password isnot input at the using of the device, and in case of confirming thateven if the password is input, the input password is not registered inpassword memory 71 by the microcomputer 47, for example, the warningscreen shown in FIG. 10( a) is OSD-displayed, and in the viewer,“Continue” as it is or “Do not continue” of the image observation isselected (step S13), in case of selecting the selection of “Continue”,for example, the notification screen as shown in FIG. 10( b) isOSD-displayed, and the 2D observation mode is switched compulsorily, andthe observation of the image is continued (step S14) by a usual routine,in case of selecting the selection of “Do not continue”, for example,the notification screen as shown in FIG. 10( c) is OSD-displayed, andthe power supply switch 36 is automatically turned off and theobservation of the 3D image is discontinued compulsorily.

According to the present embodiment, the password is registeredpreviously, the registered password is input at the use of the device,and thus the image source of 3D can be observed to the last minute inthe 3D observation mode, so that the satisfied image observation can beattained.

Moreover, in the third embodiment of the present invention, even thoughthe password is not registered, the image observation is enabled,however, the password is registered, in the case that the registeredpassword is not input at the use of the device, the image can not beobserved. In this case, the step S11 shown in FIG. 12 is omitted, thestep S12 is executed at the time of reaching the degree of influence tothe reference value, or the 3D image can be observed, by setting thedevice in such a manner that neither the operating nor the alarm displayof the degree of influence are performed.

FOURTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of theprincipal portion in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Thehead mounted type image display device comprises, in the constitutionshown in FIG. 4, a field distinction portion 75 for distinguishing thefield of the right and left video signals based on the parallax valuedetected by 3D protecting processing portion 44 at 3D observation mode,the controlling circuit 21 is controlled by the microcomputer 47 inaccordance with to the distinction result in the field distinctionportion 75, the left video signal is supplied to the left LCD 15L andthe right video signal is supplied to the right LCD 15R respectively,and thus other constitutions are the same as ones shown in FIG. 4, sothat the same reference number is attached to the same component as oneshown in FIG. 4 and the explanation thereof is omitted.

That is, as described above, the field sequential 3D video signal isdefined by EIAJ, however, in the domestic and foreign current 3D imagesoftwares, the software that signal on L side is arranged in the evenfield, and signal on R side is arranged in the odd field, and on thecontrary, the software that the signal on R side is arranged in the evenfield, and the signal on L side is arranged in the odd field, existtogether, so that for example, in the case that the video signal of theeven field is displayed to LCD 15L on L side fixedly, and the videosignal of the odd field is displayed to LCD 15R on R side fixedly, whenthe provided 3D software has the even field being a video signal on Rside, and the odd field being a video signal on L side, the degree ofinfluence to the viewer is made more stronger, and the 3D image can notbe appreciated, or the like, thereby generating the inconvenience.

Then, in this embodiment, the field of the right and left video signalsis distinguished by the field distinction portion 75, based on theparallax value detected by the degree of influence operating portion 62(refer to FIG. 6) of the 3D protecting processing portion 44, and thecontrolling circuit 21 is controlled by the microcomputer 47, in such amanner that according to the distinction result, the Left LCD 15L isdriven during the field period, in which a left video signal issupplied, and the right LCD 15R is driven during the field period, inwhich a right video signal is supplied, and thus the left video signalis supplied to the left LCD 15L, and the right video signal is suppliedto the right LCD 15R respectively.

Herein, the field distinction based on the parallax value in the fielddistinction portion 75 is distinguished overall according to threecharacteristics of the followings 1), 2), and 3).

-   -   1) There is an opposite possibility if there are a lot of too        large parallaxes in the one polarity. This point is explained        with reference to FIGS. 15( a) and 15(b) as well as FIG. 16.        FIGS. 15( a) and 15 (b) are views for explaining the parallax        value in the 3D video signal, FIG. 15( a) shows the observation        mode of the 3D image in which the spherical body dashes out,        and, FIG. 15( b) shows the image displayed on the right and left        LCDs 15L and 15R in that case. In FIG. 15( b), Δ mark shows the        image in the infinity, ◯ mark shows the 3D displayed spherical        body (dashing out display), XL shows a horizontal position of        the spherical body of L(left) image, XR shows a horizontal        position of the spherical body of R (right) image, and these        positions XL and XR are not equal and are shifted to rightist        inclinations or the left from the center.

As shown in FIG. 15( a), when the images shown in FIG. 15( b) aredisplayed on the right and left LCDs 15L and 15R, respectively, and areobserved through right and left lenses 81L and 81R on the right and lefteyeballs 82L and 82R, the spherical body is displayed onto a virtualimage position 83 where the focus of right and left eyeballs 82L and 82Ris suitably matched, and two images displayed on the virtual imageposition 83 are fused and observed on a fusional position 84 as oneimage. Herein, the distance from the position of the right and leftlenses 81L and 81R to the fusional position 84 is called as aconvergence distance, the distance from the position of the right andleft lenses 81L and 81R to the virtual image position 83 is called as aviewing distance, the horizontal parallax value is represented by thedifference of the horizontal position of the right and left images, forinstance, by (XL-XR), and the parallax value corresponds to theconvergence distance, and thus it means that when the parallax value islarge, the dashing out degree to this side is large.

However, as shown in FIG. 16, when the image at R side is displayed onLCD 15L at L side and the image at L side is displayed on LCD15R at Rside, XR of the image displayed on LCD 15R at R side becomes large, andthe spherical body is deviated to the right side from the center of thescreen, and thus the parallax value becomes minus, i.e., negative.

In this way, when a lot of images included in the 3D image are in theabove relation, it is determined that the right and left images aredisplayed oppositely. Moreover, in the above embodiment, the horizontalparallax value is detected from (XL-XR), so that in the case that theright and left images are in opposite, the horizontal parallax valuebecomes larger to the minus side, but in the case that the horizontalparallax value is detected from (XR-XL), the horizontal parallax valuebecomes larger to the plus side, oppositely.

-   -   2) In the upper half and the lower half of the screen, in        generally, the parallax of the lower half is larger.

In the case of usual scenery, it is abundant that the lower side of thescreen is a near view, and the upper side is a distant view, as shown inFIG. 17, in the image, of which the object on the table look down at theoblique, near side will come below.

On considering this point, for example, as shown in FIG. 18( a), when aspherical body 86 positioned near a wall 85 is looked down upon andimaged by right and left cameras 87L and 87R, the right and left imagesbecome as shown in FIG. 18( b), and when this is displayed on the rightand left LCDs 15L and 15R, oppositely, the image becomes as shown inFIG. 19, so that the phenomenon similar to the case of the 1) causes.Therefore, in the lower half of the screen, when the parallax is largerin the opposite direction, it is decided that the right and left imagesare displayed, oppositely.

-   -   3) In the case that the vertical parallax has been generated on        the screen end, the right image shifts upper in case of the        upper right end, and the right image shifts lower in case of the        lower right end.

That is, as shown in FIG. 20( a), when the wall 85 is imaged by theright and left cameras 87L and 87R, the right and left images become asshown in FIG. 20( b). Herein, on paying attention to the upper rightedges A and A′ of the wall displayed on the right and left screens, theposition of the upper right edge A′ of the right image shifts on h morethan the position of the upper right end A of the left image, and thuswhen the lower right edges B and B′ are paid to attention, the positionof the lower right edge B′ of the right image shifts below than theposition of the lower right end B of the left image.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 21, when the image shown in FIG. 20(b) is displayed on the right and left LCDs 15L and 15R, oppositely, theabove relation becomes reversal. Therefore, in the case that such avertical parallax has been generated, it is decided that the right andleft images are displayed oppositely.

In the field distinction portion 75, the field of the right and leftvideo signals is distinguished from the above three characteristics,based on the parallax value detected by the 3D protecting processingportion 44, when the image signals are displayed on the right and leftLCDs 15L and 15R, oppositely, the drive of the right and left LCDs 15Land 15R according to the controlling circuit 21 is switched through themicrocomputer 47, in such a manner that the left video signal iscorrectly displayed on the left LCD 15L, and the right video signal iscorrectly displayed on the right LCD 15R respectively, and the order ofreading the field sequential video signal from the external memory 45 isswitched, oppositely, according to memory control portion 61(Refer toFIG. 5) of 3D protecting processing portion 44.

The effect of displaying the during field distinction of “Duringdetection” etc. is OSD-displays in a blue backing or a black backing,etc, without displaying the video signal from an external device on theright and left LCDs 15L and 15R, during the period of the fieldaccording to the field distinction portion 75, the 3D image is displayedby controlling the controlling circuit 21 with the microcomputer 47, insuch a manner that, after completion of the distinction, as describedabove, the left video signal is correctly displayed on the left LCD 15L,and the right video signal is correctly displayed on the right LCD 15R.Thereafter, as in the same as the first embodiment, when the degree ofinfluence based on the parallax value reaches the reference value, thewarning screen is OSD-displayed, thereby automatically turning off thepower supply switch 36.

In this way, in this embodiment, the control is performed in such amanner that the field of the right and left video signals isdistinguished by the field distinction portion 75, based on the parallaxvalue detected by the 3D protecting processing portion 44 at 3Dobservation mode, and the left video signal is correctly displayed onthe left LCD 15L, and the right video signal is correctly displayed onthe right LCD 15R, so that the 3D image can regularly be appreciatedwithout being influenced on the order of the right and left videosignals of the provided 3D image software.

Moreover, fourth embodiments of the can be combined with the secondembodiment or a third embodiment.

FIFTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of theprincipal portion in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Inthe present embodiment, in the first-fourth respective embodiments, thepoint of providing the function of the 3D protecting processing portion44 for the digital image-processing unit is different fundamentally.

In FIG. 22, a controller 300 comprises a YC separation circuit 402 forseparating the composite video signals VBS input from an A/V inputterminal 101 into a luminance signal Y and a chrominance signal C; aswitch 104 for selecting and outputting the signal from the terminalconnected according to whether or not the connection is performed toeither of an A/V input terminal 101 or an S image input terminal 103; adecoder 105 for converting the luminance signal Y and the chrominancesignal C from the switch 104 into the signals of the respective colorsof red (R), green (G), and blue (B) signal, and for extracting thevertical synchronizing signal VD, the horizontal synchronizing signal HDand the field signal E/O; an exchanging switch 108 for switching the RGBsignals output from the decoder 105 and the PC video signal of RGB inputfrom an external device such as computers to an RGB input terminal 107;AID converters 109R, 109G, and 109B for sampling RGB signal from theexchanging switch 108 by usual twice sampling frequency, and forconverting the sampled signals into digital signals, respectively; adigital image processing unit 110 for performing a 3D protect processingexplained by the above embodiment, based on the video signal digitalizedby these A/D converters 109R, 109G, and 109B, and for performing thedigital image processing and the mask processing of image, in which thevideo signal is LCD-displayed corresponding to the pixel shift of fourpoint shift (Wobbling); a DRAM 111 as a working memory of the digitalimage processing unit 110; DACs 112R, 112G, and 112B for converting thedigital red, green, and blue signals output from the digital imageprocessing unit 110 into analog signal, respectively; a voice unit 114for exchanging the speech signal input from the A/V input terminal 101and the speech signal input from the voice input terminal 113 and foradjusting the volume and tone quality according to its interchanging, awaveform shaping circuit 115 for wave-shaping the vertical synchronizingsignal VD and the horizontal synchronizing signal HD input from the RGBinput terminal 107; a power circuit 116 for supplying the required powersupply voltage to each portion of the controller 300 and each portion ofa device body 150; a power supply voltage detector 117 for detecting thepower supply voltage of the power circuit 116; an E²PROM 118; anoperating button 119 having a power supply button, a menu button, and aselection button, etc; and a CPU 120 for controlling the operations ofrespective portions, based on the vertical synchronizing signal VD, thehorizontal synchronizing signal HD and the field signal E/O from thedecoder 105, the vertical synchronizing signal VD and the horizontalsynchronizing signal HD from the waveform shaping circuit 115, thedetecting voltage from the power supply voltage detector 117, the memorycontents of the E2PROM 118, and the depressing of the operating button119 etc.

Here, E²PROM 118 memorizes various set values and initial value relatingto the image/voice etc. in relation to the image source, and theadjusted value arbitrarily set by the user in relation to the imagesource. In the present embodiment, as an image source, five kinds intotal of image sources of four kinds of video signals of respectivecomposite video signals and S video signals of NTSC system and PALsystem being AV mode, and the PC video signal from an external devicesuch as computers being PC mode, are made selectable, and theserespective video signals have been independently adjusted concerning theimage, for example as to respective video signals of AV mode, respectiveitems of the contrast, the bright, the density of color, hue, sharpness,white balances red, white balances blue, are adjustable, or as to the PCvideo signal of PC mode, respective items of the contrast and bright areadjustable. Moreover, for the voice signal, for example, respectiveitems of the volume, the bus, the treble, the balance, and the surround,etc. are adjustable, independently, in the AV mode and PC mode.Moreover, the reference value of the degree of influence in the 3Dobservation mode is also set and changed properly and stored in theE2PROM 118 in the viewer.

Moreover, a device body 150 comprises an LCD driver circuit 154 fordriving LCDs 151L and 151R by the analog RGB signal from the controller300, right and left back light (BL) driving circuits 155L and 155R fordriving back lights 152L and 152R, right and left Wobbling element (WB)driving circuits 156L and 156R for driving Wobbling elements 153L and153R, an E²PROM 157, a timing generator (TG) unit 158 for controllingthe operations such as LCDs 151L, 151R, the back light driving circuits155L, 155R, and Wobbling element driving circuits 156L and 156R based onthe memory content of the E²PROM 157 and the signal from the CPU120 ofthe controller 300, etc. right and left inner phones 159L, 159R, inaddition to the right and left LCDs 151L and 151R, the right and leftback lights (BL) 152L and 152R, and the right and left Wobbling elements(WB) 153L and 153R.

Here, every respective back light driving circuits 155L and 155R, thecontrol data corresponding to the power supply voltage for driving thecorresponding back lights 152L and 152R by the substantial same givenlighting brightness, for example, offset data of the initial data whenpower supply voltage is in reference voltage, are stored previously inthe E2PROM 157.

In the present embodiment, the AV mode and PC mode are switched andselected by the OSD (on screen display) according to the depression ofthe operating button 119, and thus the AV input or the PC input isselected by the exchanging switch 108 with the switch of the OSD.Moreover, when the S image input terminal 103 is connected, the switch104 performs the switching operation so as to make S display priority.

Moreover, the image according to the image source is set by CPU 120, andthe input video signal are imaged and displayed on the right and leftLCDs 151L and 151R in the decoder 105, the digital image processing unit110 and the LCD driver circuit 154 according to the image setting, andthus the voice is set according to the AV mode or PC mode, and the inputvoice signals are voice-processed in the voice unit 114 according to thevoice setting, thereby outputting the voice from the right and leftinner phones 159L and 159R.

That is, in the voice setting, the image source is identified and theadjusted value of the corresponding image source is read from the E2PROM118, and the read respective adjusted value is written in thecorresponding circuit portions, for example, in the decoder 105, thedigital image processing units 110, the LCD driver circuit 154 and thetiming generator unit 158. As a result, the input video signals areprocessed according to the set respective adjusted value, and displayedon the right and left LCDs 151L and 151R. Moreover, when the imagesource is a PC video signal, the processing by the decoder 105 is notperformed.

Moreover, in the voice setting, the image source is identified and theadjusted value of the corresponding mode is read from the E2PROM 118according to the AV mode or PC mode, the read respective adjusted valueis written in the voice unit 114, as a result, the input voice signalsare processed according to the set respective adjusted value, and outputfrom the right and left inner phones 159L and 159R.

In this way, various set values and initial values concerning theimage/voice etc. are memorized in the E²PROM 118 in relation to theimage source, and the adjusted value set by the user arbitrarily, ismemorized, the slight difference of the images every image source can beset respectively as data by processing the input image/voice signalaccording to the data of the corresponding image source memorized in theE²PROM 118, based on the input image source, and thus the inputimage/voice signal can be automatically processed without requiring thecalling operation. Therefore, even if the image source is changed, theimage can be observed at any time without performing any operation underthe desired state, and thus the convenience can be improved.

Moreover, the 3D protecting processing by the digital image processingunit 110 is similar to the above first, second, third or fourthembodiments, so that the explanation thereof is omitted here.

Possibility on Industrial Utility

According to the present invention, the parallax value of the right andleft video signals supplied to the right and left image display elementsby the 3D protecting process means is detected at 3D observation mode,the degree of influence given to the viewer based on the detectedparallax value, is operated, whether or not the operating degree ofinfluence reaches the reference value, is decided, when it is decidedthat the degree of influence reached the reference value, the decisionis displayed selectively on the right and left image display elements bythe display control means, so that the degree of influence to the viewerof the 3D image can be decreased, and thus the image can be observedalways appropriately.

1. An image display device for displaying images by either of atwo-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image comprising: right andleft image display elements which receive respective right and leftimage signals, which when viewed concurrently, provide a stereoscopicimage to a user; three-dimensional protecting process means whichdetects a parallax value for each of the right and left image signalssupplied to the right and left image display elements, and an evaluationvalue as a degree of influence given to the viewer is determined foreach of the signals, by calculating a parallax statistic which isstatistical data of the parallax value included in the stereoscopicimage based upon the detected parallax value, performing both staticevaluation and dynamic evaluation of the parallax value based on theparallax statistics to determine the respective evaluation values, andthen integrating both of the evaluation values, the determinedevaluation value for each of the signals is an accumulated value, theaccumulated value being calculated by sequentially adding the evaluationvalue, and a determination is made as to whether the accumulated valueis at least equal to a predetermined threshold value; a display controlmeans that selectively displays whether the accumulated value is atleast equal to the predetermined threshold value on the right and leftimage display elements; a password input means for selectively inputtinga password of a viewer; a password storage means for storing thepassword provided by the password input means; and a password decisionmeans for deciding whether the password from the password input means isstored in the password storage means, and when it is determined that thepassword is stored, even if it is determined that the evaluation valueis at least equal to the predetermined threshold value, withoutdisplaying the decision on the right and left image display elements,the display control means displays the three-dimensional image on theright and left image display elements, and when it is determined thatthe password is not stored even if it is determined that the evaluationvalue is at least equal to the predetermined threshold value, thedisplay control means displays the two-dimensional image on the rightand left image display elements, wherein when the evaluation value is atleast equal to the predetermined threshold value, the display controlmeans selectively displays whether or not the image together with thedisplaying are continuously observed, on the right and left imagedisplay elements.
 2. An image display device for displaying images byeither of a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional imagecomprising: right and left image display elements which receiverespective right and left image signals, which when viewed concurrently,provide a stereoscopic image to a user; three-dimensional protectingprocess means which detects a parallax value for each of the right andleft image signals supplied to the right and left image displayelements, and an evaluation value as a degree of influence given to theviewer is determined for each of the signals, by calculating a parallaxstatistic which is statistical data of the parallax value included inthe stereoscopic image based upon the detected parallax value,performing both static evaluation and dynamic evaluation of the parallaxvalue based on the parallax statistics to determine the respectiveevaluation values, and then integrating both of the evaluation values,the determined evaluation value for each of the signals is anaccumulated value, the accumulated value being calculated bysequentially adding the evaluation value, and a determination is made asto whether the accumulated value is at least equal to a predeterminedthreshold value; a display control means that selectively displayswhether the accumulated value is at least equal to the predeterminedthreshold value on the right and left image display elements; a passwordinput means fox selectively inputting a password of a viewer; a passwordstorage means for storing the password provided by the password inputmeans; and a password decision means for deciding whether the passwordfrom the password input means is stored in the password storage means,and when it is determined that the password is stored, even if it isdetermined that the evaluation value is at least equal to thepredetermined threshold value, without displaying the decision on theright and left image display elements, the display control meansdisplays the three-dimensional image on the right and left image displayelements, and when it is determined that the password is not stored evenif it is determined that the evaluation value is at least equal to thepredetermined threshold value, the display control means displays thetwo-dimensional image on the right and left image display elements,wherein the display control means supplies a video signal of an oddnumber field or of an even number field to the right and left imagedisplay elements, thereby two-dimensionally displaying the image in thecase of selecting that the image is continuously observed, and thedisplay control means turns off the main power supply in the case wherethe image is not continuously observed.
 3. An image display device fordisplaying images by either of a two-dimensional image or athree-dimensional image comprising: right and left image displayelements which receive respective right and left image signals, whichwhen viewed concurrently, provide a stereoscopic image to a user;three-dimensional protecting process means which detects a parallaxvalue for each of the right and left image signals supplied to the rightand left image display elements, and an evaluation value as a degree ofinfluence given to the viewer is determined for each of the signals, bycalculating a parallax statistic which is statistical data of theparallax value included in the stereoscopic image based upon thedetected parallax value, performing both static evaluation and dynamicevaluation of the parallax value based on the parallax statistics todetermine the respective evaluation values, and then integrating both ofthe evaluation values, the determined evaluation value for each of thesignals is an accumulated value, the accumulated value being calculatedby sequentially adding the evaluation value, and a determination is madeas to whether the accumulated value is at least equal to a predeterminedthreshold value; a display control means that selectively displayswhether the accumulated value is at least equal to the predeterminedthreshold value on the right and left image display elements: a passwordinput means for selectively inputting a password of a viewer; a passwordstorage means for storing the password provided by the password inputmeans; a password decision means for deciding whether the password fromthe password input means is stored in the password storage means, andwhen it is determined that the password is stored, even if it isdetermined that the evaluation value is at least equal to thepredetermined threshold value, without displaying the decision on theright and left image display elements, the display control meansdisplays the three-dimensional image on the right and left image displayelements, and when it is determined that the password is not stored evenif it is determined that the evaluation value is at least equal to thepredetermined threshold value, the display control means displays thetwo-dimensional image on the right and left image display elements; anda field distinction means for determining a field of a right and leftvideo signal based on the parallax value detected by the 3D protectingprocess means, and the display control means supplies a left videosignal to a left image displaying element and a right video signal to aright image displaying element, according to a result of the fielddistinction means.
 4. An image display device as claimed in claim 3,wherein during the determination by the field distinction means, thedisplay control means prohibits the display of the three-dimensionalimage on the right and left image display elements, and displays theduration of the determination period of the field on the right and leftimage display elements.